If you’re looking to rent a car at Guanacaste Airport, Costa Rica, then this guide will tell you everything you need to know. Also make sure to read our “renting a car in Costa Rica” post for more detailed information and get our Costa Rica car rental discount!
Car Rental Guanacaste Airport
There are many car rentals in Liberia Airport, international and local.
You will see car rental counters inside the airport and those companies have stationed agents for tourists who want to rent a car upon arrival. A few companies that have an airport counter are the international ones like Budget, Enterprise and Alamo. Find the company you’re interested in and you can talk to their agent to check availability and prices.
If you decide to book the car, they’ll tell you where to meet the agent to take you to their airport office location to collect your car.
Travel tip: It’s best to reserve a rental car beforehand. This is mandatory in high and peak season, December to April as availability is extremely limited (to none during peak times). You generally get the best price online as well rather than when you are in person.

However, not all Guanacaste Airport car rentals have a counter. In that case, you will need to find your car rental agent after customs and immigration. The agent will then take you to their shuttle to bring you to their airport office to collect your car or help you with a reservation.
In our particular case, we have a partnership with Adobe Rent a Car, a Costa Rican car rental agency to offer discounts and freebies to our readers. Below you will read more about how to find the Adobe Rent a Car agent at Guanacaste airport.
Car Rental Guanacaste Airport Pick Up
In Costa Rica, many car rental companies offer a meet and greet and have an airport office for clients to collect their car as the international airports are too small and there isn’t a dedicated parking garage just for car rentals.
Once you exit customs (through the double doors where you cannot go back), you will be inside the airport check in area. Right through the glass doors straight ahead, you will see a group of people holding up signs. Go through the glass doors and look for the sign of the car rental company you booked with.
The car rental company will then shuttle you to their airport office to pick up the car and complete paperwork. Some companies charge for this shuttle, some offer is complimentary. With our partnership with Adobe, this meet and greet is complimentary.
Companies like Alamo offer a host service who will assist you in the pick up process.
Car Rental Guanacaste Airport Pick Up Video With Adobe Rent a Car
To help you feel more comfortable and secure about this process, here is a video we made of this pick up process with Adobe Rent a Car. This is ONLY for Adobe Rent a Car, no other car rental agency.
Don’t forget to get our Costa Rica car rental discount and extra freebies!
What to Know About This Pick Up Process
You will get a lot of people coming up to you asking if you want a taxi or car rental
Make sure you tell them no if you already booked a car beforehand. Some people may try to offer you a cheaper car if you tell them you already reserved a car. Some taxi drivers may tell you that you’re being ripped off and it’s cheaper to take taxis your whole trip. Or even offer to book it for you because they can get a cheaper price (You can read about other scams in Costa Rica to stay safe).
Ignore them and look for the agent wearing the company shirt and holding a sign with the company logo and your name on it.
If you booked a car at the baggage claim counters, then look for the car rental agent to get to the shuttle.
What happens if you don’t see your car rental agent
1. Find the airport help desk: If you checked out the whole group of people waiting outside and don’t see your company, go inside the airport and find the help desk. It’s near the arrivals area where you exit. Ask the staff they all speak English) if they can help you find them or get their phone number.
2. Call them: If you already have the phone number, you can ask the help desk if they can call the agency for you or to borrow their phone if you don’t have a working phone.
Car rental companies usually have just 1 agent holding the sign so they may have slipped out to use the bathroom or are with other clients taking them to the shuttle. Make sure to go outside and look around the crowd.
Don’t ask the other car rental agents as they may try to mislead you. Some agents have been known to steal clients even if they already made a reservation.
Returning Your Rental Car at Guanacaste Airport
For returning a rental car at Guanacaste Airport, it is the same process as pick up for nearly all car rental agencies. You’ll drive to their Guanacaste Airport office, drop off the car and the company will shuttle you to the airport.
If you have an early morning flight, Adobe Rent a Car and most car rental companies start receiving cars around 5 AM. If you need an earlier return, the best option is to return your car the day before and arrange a taxi or shuttle to the airport. You can watch a video and get more information on this early morning return at Liberia Airport here.
Renting a Car at Liberia Airport Upon Arrival
First, we do not recommend renting a car at Liberia Airport upon arrival during high season (December – end of April). This is because there is no guarantee you can get a car and rates are generally more expensive. You need to make a reservation beforehand to secure a car.
This is especially true during the peak and high season times which are Christmas and New Years, Easter week (Semana Santa), June July and August. Even people who try to book a car 2 weeks before these periods of time have a very difficult time finding one as cars go so fast!
If you are visiting in low tourism months such as May, September or October, you can rent upon arrival if you want to play it by ear. We still don’t recommend to do so because then you can’t comparison shop or read about car rental insurances but it is not as risky as high season when it comes to availability.
Adobe Rent a Car
With our partner Adobe Rent a Car, you can still get the Mytanfeet discount if you rent the day of. However, you must call them (18558611250 toll free or local at 506 2542-4800) and ask for the Mytanfeet rate when you are speaking with their agent.
You can also find the agent at the airport to go to their airport office. Again, make sure to ask them for the Mytanfeet discounted rate and extra benefits when you arrive at the office.
Save On Your Car Rental!
If you’re renting a car at Guanacaste Airport, make sure to get our Costa Rican car rental discount with Adobe Rent a Car. Mytanfeet readers get a car rental discount and extra benefits like 2 free drivers, free baby/booster seats, free prepaid SIM card, free cooler and much more.

Dave from California says
Rented a car out of Liberia Airport through Adobe using the MyTanFeet (MTF) link. It was a great experience. The shuttle was waiting right outside the terminal just like the MTF video showed. No waiting, we were whisked off to the rental office about 10 minutes away. The car was waiting, ready to go, and after a few minutes doing the paperwork with the bi-lingual staff, a stop in their clean bathrooms, and a refill from their water cooler we were on our way. One of the smoothest car rental experiences we’ve ever had. The freebies (SIM card, booster seat, 2nd driver) we got by booking through MTF were much appreciated.
Sammi says
Hello Dave, thank you for your comment and feedback, we’re glad to hear you had a positive experience with Adobe Rent a Car. We hope you enjoyed your time in Costa Rica and thank you for using Mytanfeet services!
Amy says
Hi, Do you know if the roads from Liberia to La Fortuna (and the surrounding area) are decent to drive on?
Sammi says
Yep, we have a full guide for this drive: Driving from Guanacaste to Arenal
Isabel Corugedo says
Hi! We were looking for a car from 27th December to the 11th January. We would like to rent it in Liberia Airport, do you have any car available? Thank you so much!
Sammi says
Hi Isabel, sure we have sent you an email
John says
We are flying into Liberia, how long does it usually take from arrival (mid December) and going through customs at the airport? We have a shuttle to pick us up and take us to our Airbnb, but still want to rent a car (there are 16 in our group). I really enjoy reading your blog and find it very informative and helpful.
John
Sammi says
Hi John, we’ve sent you an email
Ray says
Hello! I’m looking to book a van that can accommodate 4 adults and 3 kids. Are there any options for this at The Adobe in Liberia airport or even in La Fortuna?
Thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Ray, we will send you an email shortly asking for your car rental dates.
Olga says
Hoping you can help. My husband made a reservation yesterday and on the last page it said it was confirmed and we should be receiving an email shortly. It’s been 24hrs and still no email. We checked all the folders. Is this normal? Should we try to reserve again?
Sammi says
Hi Olga, we will check and get back to you via email today!
Alanna Beaton says
Hello we are a young family with a toddler travelling to Liberia for the Christmas holidays. Trying to book a car now. Staying in playa hermosa and will explore day trip areas from there. Adobe doesn’t have any 4×4 just cars. What do you suggest? Is 4×4 needed? Would like to use Adobe if possible.
Sammi says
Hi Alanna (Sorry I responded to your comment on accident for someone else), we’ll be sending you an email with options soon.
Rebecca says
Hi looking to rent a vehicle for 5 preferably a 4×4 from March 10-22 but nothing is coming up on Adobe link. Any suggestions?
Sammi says
Hi Rebecca, we spent you an email a couple days ago with a quote.
Jeri Goodwin says
Hello, we are a group of 5 people and having trouble finding a available car with 4 wheel drive for March 11th. We want to drive to La Fortuna and wondering if we need 4 wheel drive? If we can’t get a car through Adobe, do you have another car recommendation?
I appreciate your blogs very much. Thank you,
Jeri Goodwin
If you have any other information to share, I appreciate, as I will be staying in Costa Rica for 2 weeks. Thank you
Sammi says
Hi Jeri!
We just sent you a couple of quotes.